It's always been the GP rule that a skater/couple must be replaced if the withdrawal occurs 14 days or more before the start of the competition. After that, the host federation is not required to, but may be able to make a replacement up to a week before the competition. Once you get into that one week area, it's just too late.

Also, it is the choice of the HOST FEDERATION to choose a replacement. The host can choose one of five skaters from a replacement list, based on the 2011-2012 rank on the Seasons Best list. There is no obligation to choose a specific skater, be it Misha Ge or Kaetlyn Osmond.

And also, Why NHK accept to enter Nagasu (9 days before the competition) and not Osmond (7 days before the competition) ?

Again? Osmond isn't on the top 24 SB list, so she actually shouldn't get another spot. It doesn't matter how well she did this season, but last season (2011-2012). Nagasu is in the top 24 SB list, so she is more entitled to that spot than Osmond and is a Japanese citizen, which means that she won't have visa problems. Her situation is much different.

Skaters don't have to be in the top 24 of the Seasons Best list to be on the replacement list, they just have to be in the top 60 on the list. Elena Glebova and Jenna McCorkell got tapped as replacement skaters and they aren't in the top 24 and didn't have any GP assignments.

The host nation has to pick a skater from a list of five, drawn from the Season's Best list. There is no rule that the top skater on the list has to be the one chosen. Until NHK, Nagasu was the top skater on the SB list who did not have two GP assignments, but she was bypassed for Gao, Korpi, Joshi Helgesson, Lacoste, Biryukova, Glebova and McCorkell.

It was only fair that Nagasu, technically a Japanese citizen, was finally chosen as a replacement at NHK. She is very popular with Japanese audiences and she was the logical choice for the JSF.

Again? Osmond isn't on the top 24 SB list, so she actually shouldn't get another spot. It doesn't matter how well she did this season, but last season (2011-2012). Nagasu is in the top 24 SB list, so she is more entitled to that spot than Osmond and is a Japanese citizen, which means that she won't have visa problems. Her situation is much different.

Nagasu is a Japanese citizen? I thought Japan doesn't recognize dual citizenship. Even if she was, why would that matter if Canadians don't need a visa to visit Japan?

Yes, dual citizenship under the age of 21 is allowed, so she has dual citizenship. Also, I believe that Shelepen withdrew at the 14 day mark and Nagasu was announced as the replacement with 12 days left.

The point is the JSF has the right to choose ANY skater from the replacement list. There was ZERO obligation to pick Osmond. If they picked Nagasu, it could be because she is technically a Japanese citizen and is very popular with Japanese audiences. OTOH, Japanese audiences have never heard of Kaetlyn Osmond.

I do think that they would be unhappy to see Suzuki or Murakami be challenged again by Osmond, and therefore have their GPF position be in danger. I elaborated on that on the other thread.

As for this topic, I think a large part of the question is the fact that in a lot of ways, each federation is more or less sovereign in their competition. Yes, there are ISU rules, but these are events that require outside funding and sponsorship, popularity, and eventual income. Why invite a girl who can potentially upset two of the biggest reasons people are excited to come to your event? What message does that send? If public opinion moves critically against Japanese skaters, which I doubt it would, that could result in less public excitement and ticket sales in the future.

Osmond had HUGE home ice advantage, which she definitely would not have at NHK.

Osmond received scores of 170+ at both SCI and Nebelhorn. It is irrelevant whether anyone considers the scores inflated or not. The fact remains, the international judges "did give these scores" at both of Osmond's only senior international events. Can you guarantee 100% beyond a shadow of a doubt, the international judges wouldn't do it again at NHK for whatever reason? Can the JSF be certain? There are no do-overs if they guess wrong.

The Japanese federation has no reason to give the spot to Osmond, and without her "home ice" advantage, she'd be lucky to medal against the likes of Mao, Akiko, and Mirai, all of whom are immensely popular with the audience and have the controversial advantage.

At this point, Osmond is an actual threat to Gao, Zawadzki, Nagasu, Tuktami, et al. It's quite apparent that JSF wants to keep on good terms with Russia and USA than Canada. That blatant home-cooking at SC was frownd upon by many non-Canadians including Japanese.

I'm very positive that JSF has invited Osmond if she was placed around 4th as deserved. She won't be a particular threat to anyone then. Individual skaters hold no responsibility but they are representing each federations.